Trekking the Cordillera Blanca Photo: Helen Blackburn 63 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Northern Peru The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit The magnificent circuit of the remote Cordillera Huayhuash is justly considered to be one of the world’s most stunning treks. It really does stand comparison with the best that the Himalaya has to offer. The Huayhuash (pronounced why-wash) is a compact range of mountains, barely 30 kilometres from north to south, with Yerupaja, Peru’s second highest peak, just one of a collection of huge, dramatic fluted ice peaks which form its backbone. This is a demanding walk as most of the trek is spent above 4,000m/13,000ft and to make the complete circuit we have to cross many passes, most of which are over 4,700m/15,500ft. The scenery is spectacular – mountains tower over a wild and beautiful landscape of deep glacial valleys, sparkling blue, trout-filled lakes and tiny mountain settlements. We may see huge condors cruise the thermals and tiny birds darting among lovely wild flowers in the valleys, while llamas and vicuna graze on open hillsides and rabbitlike viscacha sun themselves on boulders. Time will be spent before the trek in Huaraz with walks in the nearby countryside to aid acclimatisation before tackling the main trek. £2,195 £1,395 Dates: Sat 07 Jun – Sun 29 Jun, Sat 30 Aug – Sun 21 Sep land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 16 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 6 Camping: 15 Optional: Single Room £150 Single Tent £70 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 23 days 1–2 Fly to Lima, drive to Huaraz 3–4 Acclimatisation walks, sightseeing 5–19 Drive to Quero and trek the Circuit –20 Walk to Llamac and drive to Huaraz 21–23 Drive to Lima, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients Around Nevado Alpamayo This wonderful trek makes a loop through the Cordillera Blanca, north of the town of Huaraz. We start at fabulous blue lakes of the Llanganuco valley, beneath Huascarán mountain, and then cross several high passes to trek beneath the beautiful west face of Alpamayo. This is a demanding trek and is mostly at high altitude, crossing high passes over 4,600m/15,000ft, but the rewards are tremendous and there will be plenty of time taken acclimatisation. From the very start of the trek we are right close to the high mountains, with stupendous views fabulous fluted snow peaks and dramatic glaciers from one. We climb to high passes to find ourselves face to face with tumbling glaciers, looking down to deep glacial valleys studded with beautiful turquoise lakes, while the peaks of high Andes recede into the distance. Along the way we come across the occasional picturesque village surrounded neatly cultivated fields and encounter local people as they graze their sheep on the high mountain slopes. The sound a shepherd playing his flute in these surroundings is unforgettable experience. £2,250 £1,450 Dates: Sat 21 Jun – Thu 10 Jul, Sat 06 Sep – Thu 25 Sep land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 13 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 6 Camping: 12 Optional: Single Room £150 Single Tent £70 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 20 days 1–2 Fly to Lima, drive to Huaraz 3–4 Acclimatisation walks, sightseeing 5–16 Drive to Llanganuco and trek through Cordillera Blanca –17 Descend to Hualcayan and drive to Huaraz 18–20 Drive to Lima, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients The lively town of Huaraz is the base for some of the most spectacular trekking in Peru. Huaraz, situated 400 km north of Lima, is set between the ranges of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra and Peru’s highest mountain Huascarán can be clearly seen from its bustling streets. We offer two treks in this region and both start with a couple of days in Huaraz for exploration and essential acclimatisation. After your trek in northern Peru, perhaps you would like to visit Machu Picchu. 3, 4 or 5 day extensions possible. Details and prices available on request. Machu Picchu TREK EXTENSION All in red – ladies in Cuzco Photo: Steve Berry

Cuicocha Lake Photo: Javier Herrera 64 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Ecuador Ecuador sits on the Equator between Peru and Colombia and is among the smallest Andean nations. The Andes in Ecuador have so much to offer – dramatic volcanoes and wonderful pastoral landscapes, vibrant modern cities contrasting with quaint colonial Spanish haciendas and simple Indian villages, the ancient Inca ruins and active indigenous artistic culture of contemporary times. There is also lots of exciting wildlife – condors, Andean foxes, deer, llamas, vicuñas and a myriad colourful birds. We offer two trips in the Ecuadorian Andes: one a vigorous approach to Cotopaxi volcano and a trek up to the hut on Chimborazo, and the other a more gentle trek with visits to some of the cultural highlights of the region as well as lots of good walking. This itinerary really does have it all: wonderful walking in the Andean highlands, Otavalo market, one of the best handicraft markets in South America, Inca ruins set high on isolated ridges, the oldest colonial Spanish hacienda in Ecuador, the artists of Tigua and, uniquely, a visit to one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the Ecuadorian Andes, the spectacular area round Quilatoa lake, famous for its emerald green waters. We start our adventure in Quito with plenty of time to explore and acclimatise to the altitude of this high Andean city. We then travel north to the crater lake of Cuicocha with a visit to some Inca ruins along the way and time to enjoy the market of Otavalo, a town famous for its weavers and entrepreneurs. On again to colonial Hacienda Guachala, from where we trek up to a ridge top to see the strangely shaped Inca ruins which crown the summit. We then travel south to the Avenue of the Volcanoes where Cotopaxi is the next objective, with time to hike to the mountain hut and a nearby glacier at 4,810m/15,781ft. We leave the park and cross the Pan-American Highway to climb up into the remote area of Quilatoa. The steep hillsides are a multi-coloured patchwork of fields, a mountain landscape totally unlike the intricately terraced Himalaya. Then Chimborazo beckons and we walk up to the mountain hut named after Whymper, who explored so much of this region. A little light relaxation at the lower altitudes of Baños and it’s back to Quito for the flight home. Gentle Trekking in the Andean Highlands £1,995 £1,265 Dates: Mon 02 Jun – Thu 19 Jun, Mon 01 Sep – Thu 18 Sep land only Grade: Gentle/Moderate Day Walks: 10 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 4 Hacienda: 2 Lodges: 9 Optional: Single Room £235 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 18 days 1–3 Fly to Quito, sightseeing and acclimatisation 4–7 Drive to Cuicocha, Otavalo and Guachala 8–9 Trekking in Cotopaxi region 10–12 To Tigua and Quilatoa 13–14 Chimborazo –15 To Baños 16–18 Return to Quito and fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients £1,795 £995 Dates: Thu 19 Jun – Thu 03 Jul, Thu 18 Sep – Thu 02 Oct land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 8 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 5 lodges/Mountain Huts: 5 Camping: 2 Optional: Single Room £160 Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 15 days 1–4 Fly to Quito. Sightseeing, acclimatisation and ascend Pichincha 5–9 Trek to Cotopaxi 10–11 Drive to Chimborazo, walk to Whymper Hut 12–15 To Baños, return to Quito, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients Cotopaxi & Chimborazo – trekking in the Avenue of the Volcanoes This is a varied and exciting trekking itinerary in the Avenue of the Volcanoes, the high central area of Ecuador, formed by two parallel chains of the Andes. There is plenty of acclimatisation time in and around Quito before setting off to trek toward Cotopaxi. We walk through farmland and ascend Pasochoa, an eroded volcanic crater, camping along the way. We stay at a traditional hacienda before making a lovely trek over a ridge to Tambopaxi, a mountain hut with unrestricted views of Cotopaxi. We trek to the Refugio Jose F Ribas at 4,810m/ 15,781ft to visit the glacier. On our recce here in 2006 we saw condor and Lobos de Puma, Andean foxes. There is an optional walk to a nearby lake to watch Andean waterbirds. Then it’s on to Chimborazo and an exciting walk up a little-used trail to Whymper’s Hut at 5,000m/16,405ft. The energetic can go even higher to Whymper’s Needles. Vicuña have been reintroduced to this high area and we may be lucky enough to spot some. We enjoy a little R&R in Baños before returning to Quito.